Sun And Gentlemanly Fun In San Diego

Credit: Gaslamp Quarter Association The Gaslamp Quarter is truly an electric place, often compared to New Orleans' French Quarter as the coolest place to dine and party in the U.S. When the night is young and the gas lamps that stand on the sidewalk begin to glow, it's time to get your groove on. For live entertainment and a true San Diego nightclub experience, places like Onyx and the Blue Tattoo come through with flying colors. Club and bar hop if your wallet can handle it — the nightspots all cater to different styles and stand out on their own.

Day 2: Ahh, the great outdoors

One of the refreshing things about San Diego is that it still boasts all the entertainment offered by L.A. but adds outdoor activities without the dense smog. Recover from a crazy night, eat a light breakfast and head out for a day of B&B: beaches and babes.

Approximately 15 minutes from downtown San Diego, the city/suburb of La Jolla (pronounced la hoya and meaning "the jewel") is an upscale seaside getaway. The rugged coast that can be seen from the main roads may make you think twice about hitting the beach, but in fact, these cliffs merely guard the great sand and coves below. La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Shores and Del Mar Beach are the three main spots to sunbathe, snorkel and surf.

delight in the crowds

Normally, I would discourage you from visiting busy beaches, but these popular areas are teeming with women in scandalous bikinis, so I doubt you'll mind the crowds too much. Relax on the Pacific Coast for a few hours in the late morning or early afternoon, taking in the beautiful oceanfront view.

When you feel like the sun is toasting you in an unhealthy fashion, seek refuge in the Stephen Birch Aquarium-Museum, which has the largest oceanographic display in the country. After cooling off, take a dip in the ocean and try your hand at surfing, or impress the ladies with some diving at low tide.

enjoy the sports or the seafront

Returning back to the city proper, many choices await you where nighttime entertainment is concerned. If you're a sports fan, perhaps you reserved tickets for a baseball or football game (Padres and Chargers, respectively). Maybe you just want to explore the city some more, now revitalized after chilling on the beach. Notable places include the Embarcadero — the dockside just west of downtown — where you can sit and watch free outdoor concerts at the Marina Park's open-air amphitheater during the summer.

You ain't seen nothing until you check out Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo...